Chapter 2: "You Might Not Finish This Chapter"

What is your response to Chan's writtings about the fragility of life and today not being just another, normal day? Can you relate to what Chan wrote about "justified stress"? What did God speak to you in this chapter? Chan refers to James' writtings in chapter 4, "Why, ou do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (4:13-14). What stirred in your heart as you read the stories of Stan and/or Brooke, as their lives here on earth were cut shorter than we would have expected?

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Chapter 1: "Stop Praying"

OK, Ladies...So, what do you think about "Crazy Love" so far? One of the first things that Chan points out..." For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse," Romans 1:20. Chan writes about some things in creation that you have have known already, and others that may be new information. What about God's creation reminds you of his wonder, power and creativity? What about His amazing creation puts you in awe?

Chan also discusses our tendencies to have "spiritual amnesia". We are all guilty of it. We are surrounded by all of His breathtaking creation....we are PART OF His breathtaking creation...but yet, we still forget. Did Father use anything out of this book to remind you that He is the great "I AM"? That we are to worship him daily, with our lives, and to fear and respect Him? If so, what? Share your tendencies and experiences if you feel led.

We read about what God Himself is like, what the scriptures tell us He is like. God is holy. God is eternal. He is all-knowing and all-powerful, He is fair and just. Share with the others what jumped out at you, what is Father speaking to you about who He is and what He is truly like?

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Welcome!

Welcome to the book discussion on "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan! I truly believe that God has some great things to show us through this book, the scriptures supporting it, as well as through discussion with one another! You are a part of a group of women participating from many different states and many different backgrounds! Technology can sometimes be irritating, but to me, the fact that we can all participate in this, grow and learn from one another, yet be in completely different states is absolutely amazing to me! Praise God!

I will try to post at the beginning of each week and shoot for a chapter a week. We can discuss the chapters in the "comments" section below. If you need help figuring out how to post a comment, please just let me know. You can facebook me or e-mail me at zkwojtek@suddenlink.net anytime. Just click on the button below to view the comments and there will be a space for you to add your own. It may prompt you to create an ID, such as using an existing or creating a new google account or some other account.

A few other "quick tips". If the music is distracting to you, you can scroll down to the bottom and turn it off. If you ever get behind in reading or need to go back to previous chapters, they can be pulled up under both the book name and/or the chapter name. Each time I make a post, I will give the post a "label" and will label them by the book name and chapter. This should make it easier to find older posts if you ever need to do so.

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Broken, But Under Construction!

I am broken, but thankfully, I am also under construction. I am thankful for my brokenness, for without my brokenness, I would likely not rely on the Father as I do each day. I HAVE to rely on Him, to turn my life and all control over to Him or I simply would not make it.

Naturally, I am selfish, but He is making me selfLESS...turning my focus to love and serve those around me. I am quick to anger; however, He is showing me to correct my children in the gentle and loving manner in which He corrects me. I am shy...not that it is a sin to be shy....but He calls me out of my shyness as I give Him control and He guides me out of my usual comfort zone as I speak to acquaintances and even strangers in an effort to show them the love of Christ in simple ways. I am self-conscious, but He shows me that I am His precious creation, a daughter of the King, made to radiate His beauty. I get caught up in the hustle of life, rushing my children through the daily activities, yet He shows me how to slow down, enjoy both the priceless time that I have with my children...HIS children. He shows me the wonders of His creation all around us that we tend to pass by without notice...the little "love notes" that he has formed for us personally. He is showing me ways to teach my children to notice the joys and wonder of His creation, as well.

It is human nature to dislike discomfort; however, He has shown me that if I am comfortable, I should be on alert--to stop and see what I am missing. Personally, if I am comfortable, I am not listening to what He has asked me to do. If I am comfortable, it typically means that I am becoming stagnate, and thus useless to the Kingdom.

Yesterday on the radio I heard, "Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve. Mercy is when he doesn't give us what we do deserve." That is so true! I fail. I fail daily, but Father's never ending grace and patience continue to amaze me. I am broken, and He is slowly, but surely helping me to become the wife and mother that I am called to become. His job is big, but He is bigger! His job will not be complete in this life, but one day I will stand before Him in awe and His work will be complete.

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"CRAZY LOVE" Start Date

I will start posting discussion questions durng the week of March 21st! Please make sure and invite other ladies to the book group! We have had a lot of excitement about it and I beleive that Father has a lot of great stuff in store!

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Crazy Love

We had originally planned to read "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World"; however, we have had a few changes! The next book that we will be reading together will be "Crazy Love", by Francis Chan.

Last month Pastor Scott taught a lot about love. During the same time, I was praying about what book we should do next, how it should be done, etc. I ran across this book and it was pretty clear that it would be the next book. You can read more about the book at www.crazylovebook.com, if you are interested.

Here is a little blurb about the book from the book's website:

"It's crazy if you think about it. The God of the universe — the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and e-minor — loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss.

Whether you've verbalized it yet or not . . . we all know something's wrong.

Does something deep inside your heart long to break free from the status quo? Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical, solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts — it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love, as Francis describes it, you will never be the same.

Because when you're wildly in love with someone, it changes everything."


My prayer would be that we are all able to better see how overwhelming and relentless the Father's love for us truly is, and that we would respond to Him with a similar love! I hope that you will join us in this next book study! Blessings!

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